July 4th: With drought danger of
fireworks’ caused blazes sky high
July 03, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Santa Paula Fire Chief Rick Araiza has a message for those thinking about setting off fireworks this 4th of July holiday season: forget it!
With the four-year drought turning brush into ready to explode fuel as demonstrated by last week’s River Fire that chewed through 168 acres of brush in a matter of hours, Araiza said fire danger is particularly high this year.
And fireworks can also harm life and limb.
“Just last year alone fireworks caused an estimated 32,600 fires, and those were just the fires that were reported so the number could be much greater,” said Araiza.
Reported fires included 1,700 structure fires that resulted in six deaths, 70 injuries and $34 million in property damage.
In addition, in 2014 hospital emergency rooms across the nation treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks related injuries; 55 percent of those injured were under the age of 15. In fact, children 10 to 14 years of age have three times the risk of fireworks injury than the general population.
Not only are fireworks dangerous they are illegal in all but one city in Ventura County.
Only Fillmore sells and allows buyers to set off Safe and Sane Fireworks, those devices approved by the state Fire Marshal.
Fireworks of all kinds are an “ongoing problem...even those fireworks called Safe and Sane — that is not the case as they are neither safe nor sane. Safe and Sane means nothing...it’s illegal in Santa Paula to possess or light them,” and Araiza said if people are caught the penalty can be a hefty fine and even jail time.
Fireworks purchased in Fillmore are only legal to be used within Fillmore city limits in designated public and private areas and then only under strict guidelines.
Certain fireworks such as Cheery Bombs, M80s and Silver Salutes are banned under federal law due to their high content of explosive materials. Illegal fireworks are smuggled into the United States from China and Mexico and are highly dangerous.
But even a sparkler held by a child can cause serious injury or even death: sparklers and other fireworks can heat up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, causing third degree burns or setting clothing on fire.
Araiza said, “We have a great 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular,” held at Harding Park but visible through most sections of the city, a celebration conducted by professionals under carefully controlled conditions including the presence of firefighters and equipment.
“I cannot impress enough on the public how high our fire danger is now, how risky it is to lives and property to use fireworks, even those marked Safe and Sane...we are very concerned this year especially because of the drought and fire conditions but,” noted Araiza, “we are always concerned about children and adults that can be injured — even killed — due to fireworks.”
In spite of the high fire danger there are 296 communities where you can buy Safe and Sane fireworks in California; in fire prone Santa Barbara County there are only three locations where state sanctioned fireworks can be purchased.
Fireworks sales started Sunday in Fillmore and will run one-week ending Sunday, July 5.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that more fires are started on July 4th than any other day of the year and fireworks account for at least 40 percent of those fires.
